Beitain holmes



. B. HOLMES'. METHOD '0F CLOSING THE PoREs of' KNoTs IN STAVES, 5w.

(No Model.)

' Patented Apr 18,- 1882.

Fly 2 n No. 256,568.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRITAIN HOLMES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND vEDWARDHOLMES, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF CLOSING THE PORES OF KNOTS IN STAVES, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. -256,568,dated April18, 1882.

7 Application tiled November 23, 1881. (No model.)

To alt whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BRITAIN HOLMES, a citizen ofthe United States,residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,

haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in the modo of treatingknots or other defects in wood, boards, or other lumber, or barrels orother wooden vessels for holding liquids, so as to make themwater-tight, of

1o which the following'is a specificotion.

It is well-known that a knot and the grain of the same runs in adirection across the grain ofthe wood and that it is porous in thedirection of its grain, thereby leaving openings through which the watercan pass; and it is further well-known that a knot is liable to shrinkand leave openings around it, so that the water or air can pass freelythrough, and it often happens thata knot will shrink enough zo to dropout of its seat. y

The object of my invention is to render those portions of wood havingknots or other defects .water and gas proof; and it consists insubjecting' the knot to sufficient pressure on either 2 5 one or bothsides to close the pores or other openings or defects and harden thesurface of the saine, so as to render it water-proof.

My'invcntion further consists in employing heat obtained by friction orin any other well-- 3o known way in connection with the pressure wherepine or other woods containin g resin are to be treated, so as to meltthe resin, and thereby assist in rendering such knots or other defectswater-proof, all of which will be more clearly hereinafter shown anddescribed by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurelis a section through a piece of wood and a knot before being treated bymy process.

4o Fig. 2 is a top view of a piece of wood and a knot before treatment.Fig. 3 is a section through a knot and piece of wood after being treatedby my process. Fig. 4 is a top or face view of a piece of wood and aknot or other 4 5 defect so treated; and Fig. 5 represents a sectionthrough a piece of wood and a knot, showing a slight change in thetreatment of the same. Fig. 6 represents a central section through aportion of a suitable device for treat- 5o ing knots or other defectsaccording to my process, and Fig. 7 is va face view ofthe same.

A in Figs. l and 2 represents an ordinary knot before treatment. BinFigs. 3 and 4. represents the same after being treated Vby my method andrendered water-proof. 55

In shrinking the knot not only shrinks away from the wood around it, sothat it often falls out, but it also cracks across the face, therebyleaving openings that allow water or air to pass freely through. 6o

In carrying my invention into practice I find that the most convenientand practical way is to subject the knot and the wood immediatelysurrounding it to a heavy pressure from a` rapidly revolving tool, b,having a series of circular grooves, c, in its face, similar to thatshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The tool may be used in any upright and well-known drilling-machinecapable of a vertical as well as a revolving movement, so that 7o therequired pressure may be given while the tool is turning. The turning ofthe tool by its friction generates heat enough to melt the resin in theknot, and also assists in condensing and hardeningthe wood, therebyforcing all portions of the woodand knot closely together. Furthermore,by its heat and friction it partly chars the face of the knot and woodand renders it very hard and compact and water-proof.

' The tool should be large enough to alittle 8o more than cover theknot, so as to completely close any opening between the Wood and theknot by pressing the fiber of the two together.

If desired, the tool b may be used without being made to revolve; butthe pressureiu that case would have to be much greater; and a Hatfacedtool may be used 5 but this would also require a much greater pressure.

I claim as my invention- A The within-described mode of treating knots9o or other defects in wood to render them water-tight, consisting insubjecting the knot and the woodimmediately surroundingittoa heavypressure by means of a tool, b, or its equivalent, either with orwithout a revolving motion,

substantially as described,vwhereby the knot is securely fastened inplace and rendered water-tight, as specified.

BRITAIN HOLMES. Witnesses: I JAI/nas SANG-STER, HUGH SANG-STER.

